Phantoms veteran star Levers on his way back

Veteran forward Marc Levers will return for a fourth season with Phantoms fuelled by a failure to win silverware last season.

The city club finished as English Premier League and EPL Cup runners-up before bowing out in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

And that hurt the 34 year-old, who had been part of the triumphant play-off squad in the 2014/15 campaign.

Levers admitted: “Finishing last season with no trophies was very disappointing.

“But I’m excited for the new season and seeing what the young team that is being put together can do.

“Hopefully we can gain some silverware.”

Levers’ return follows hot on the heels of the award of a first full-time senior contract to local lad James White. The Castor talent has risen through the club’s junior system and showed his potential during last term.

Phantoms have also snapped up Welsh youngster Owen Griffiths from EPL rivals Swindon in recent days – taking the number of players under the age of 20 in their roster to five.

Griffiths contributed just one assist while being used sparingly by the Wildcats last term but hit 36 points in as many games for Wightlink Raiders at National League level the season before.

He is well known to Phantoms coach Slava Koulikov after representing the Great Britain Under 20s in their World Championship event last winter – Koulikov is an assistant coach of that squad.

But it is understood one forward who will not be returning to Phantoms is popular import Milan Baranyk.

The Czech maestro penned a two-year deal last summer, but speculation suggests he will now move on to another English club.

Phantoms have also been linked with a swoop for a new Czech forward, Petr Stepanek. That briefly appeared as a completed transfer on the respected Elite Prospects website before being removed.